Documentary on Indiana Dunes to be shown in Wilmington

Preservation of landscape has a local connection

The Indiana Dunes is the subject of "Shifting Sands: On the Path to Sustainability," a documentary being shown for free at 3 p.m. Saturday at The Mar Theatre in Wilmington.

The public is invited to a free showing Saturday in Wilmington of the environmental film “Shifting Sands: On the Path to Sustainability.”

The movie will be shown at 3 p.m. at The Mar Theatre, 121 S. Main St., with a discussion session afterward.

The documentary about the preservation of the Indiana Dunes portrays a region that has much in common with the Wilmington area, said Tom Desch, a member of the production team.

“Both are a tremendous meeting ground of stunning natural areas and heavy industry,” Desch said of Herscher. “So it’s very fitting that ‘Shifting Sands,’ with its narrative of nature and industry, screens in Wilmington.”

The film details how the Indiana Dunes became a catalyst for conservation, industrialization and environmental policy, according to a news release.

The Will County Environmental Network has joined Desch in presenting the film.

“This is our effort to reach out and teach more people about the unique Midwestern ecosystems that surround us,” said Pat Nugent, president of the network.

The film tells how a national park was created in an industrial area and sparked “a movement, which eventually led to game-changing environmental policies with worldwide impact,” the release said.

Environmental activists, scholars, public officials and business leaders are interviewed in the documentary.

Green Heron Production produced “Shifting Sands: On the Path to Sustainability.”

The presenting station is Lakeshore Public Television/Northwest Indiana.